NOR WA V 7 



1,760 feet above sea-level, and Skoien only 470. We 

 passed the end of the Rands Fjord, and the road was 

 good all the way except for a little bit near Lien. The 

 difference of climate of the two places is very marked, 

 still there is a good deal of snow in patches about Skoien, 

 and the Eands Fjord is still frozen. The scenery, too, 

 improved, becoming wilder and rockier. For the present 

 we must fight shy of all places above 500 feet in elevation. 

 Skoien is prettily situated, with a tolerably large river 

 running past it into the Rands Fjord, and with wooded 

 rocks rising behind the house. 



We saw two Magpies' nests from which the birds flew 

 out, but we did not disturb them, as the people are very 

 fond of them and like to have them building near the 

 houses. I shot a (? White Wagtail close to the house, 

 which was along with a female, which I also shot. 



This day for the first time we tasted ' flad brod,' and 

 most excellent it was, a thin, wafer-like barley cake, 

 beautifully made, crisp and hard. Also 'Gede-ost,' which 

 is palatable, but has the appearance of brown windsor 

 soap. It had a somewhat soapy taste too, we thought, 

 but is fairly palatable. This was at Mustad. For dinner 

 at Skoien we had excellent blackgame, and ham and eggs. 



Our quarters here, Skoien, were most comfortable, 

 ' the grub magnificent,' and the daughter of the house 

 speaks capital English. 



May 12. 



After breakfast on Friday, May 12th, I went out with 

 my big gun (in contradistinction to the walking-stick 

 gun). I tried first the pine woods where I heard what 

 I took to be the ' laugh'* of a Woodpecker of some species. 

 Finding the woods of no use, I went down to the river- 

 side, and saw and chased for more than hour two Sand- 

 pipers, one of which I at last knocked over. These 

 '■''■ No doubt Oecinus viridis. 



